Folding box with handle



United States Patent O l 2,795,369 FOLDING BOX WITH HANDLE Irving Caster, San Mateo, and Irving Feldman, Hollywood, Calif.

Application May 20, 1953, Serial No. 356,238 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-52) This invention relates to a handle for a box and for a box having tabs which cooperate with the handle to keep the box closed. The invention is particularly directed to a box having an integral handle and wherein slots are provided adjacent to the handle which cooperates with slots on an opposite side of the box to make a box which is simple to manufacture and which has a positive closing means. The invention is primarily applicable to boxes of cardboard, but may be applied to boxes of other materials.

It is highly desirable to provide a box for merchandise which may be easily carried. In this manner, purchasers are encouraged to carry purchases rather than having them delivered, which results in a considerable saving to the merchant. ln the past, a number of box handles have been proposed, but ordinarily these handles have added to the expense of the box and have been detachable. When detachable handles are used, there is always the possibility that the handle will become lost and the use of detachable handles requires extra storage space and record keeping. Further, it is highly desirable to provide a box with a positive locking mechanism so that it is not necessary to use string or tape to fasten the box together.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive handle for a box which is integral with the box.

Another object of this invention is to provide a handle which also serves to fasten the box in closed position.

Still another object is to provide a box having tabs thereon wherein the tabs cooperate with the handle to ensure positive locking of the box.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sheet of blank stock showing the manner in which the box of the present invention is cut from a sheet of stock.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a box of the present invention in partially assembled form.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 in which the handle has been completely asernbled and the box is ready for closing.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, in which the box has been closed, showing the position the handle and aps assume upon closing.

Referring now to the drawing by reference characters, in the blank of Figure 1, a sheet of box stock is provided which is cut-out as shown. Actual cuts are made on solid lines and the box is adapted to be folded on the dash lines. According to this embodiment, the blank has a bottom portion 7, a top or cover portion 9, end portions 11, and side closing portions 13 and 15. The box thus far described is largely conventional in construction and the parts will not be described in detail. The box of the present invention is of the hinged lid type, the hinging action being accomplished by the fold lines designated 17 and 19, and for the exact manner of folding the box, reference is made to our copending patent application, Serial No. 332,354, tiled January 21, 1953.

On the side closing portion 13, a tab 17 is provided to which is attached a handle portion, generally designated 19. The handle 19 consists of a central portion 21, second and third tab portions 23 and 25, a second handle portion 27, and another tab section 29.

In addition, the side portion 13 has two angular slots, designated 31 and 33, cut therein. Further, the side portion 13 has a rectangular slot 35 therein.

The side portion 15 has a hole 37 cut therein, which isV slightly wider than the handle portion 21, and also slightly shorter than handle portion 21. Additionally, the side portion 15 has two V-shaped slots 39 and 41 cut therein. This leaves an intact central portion 41, the ends of which may be rounded as at 43, to provide tabs.

In assembling the box, one rst assembles the corners in the conventional manner, and then folds the handle portion so that the part 27 overlies the part 21. Thus, the parts assume the position shown in Figure 2. The handle portion is then folded over so that the tab 17 overlies the end 13 and the handle portions 21 and 27 are pulled through the opening made by the slot 35. The box then assumes the appearance shown in Figure 3. lf it is desired to ship the box in knocked-down condition, the box may now be folded at on the lines designated 45. Thus, the box can be partially assembled and then flattened for shipment. To complete assembly of the box, the handle portion 21 and 25 is passed through the slot 37, and the tabs 43 inserted in the slots 31 and 33.

The box is now closed and the top locked securely in position.

lf desired, the box may be made with a single handle rather than the double handle illustrated. To make the box in this manner, parts 25, 27 and 29 would be omitted.

Although the box has been described as being made from a one-piece blank, two or more sheets can be fastened together for forming the box.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that we have described a handle fold box wherein the side of the box is provided with tabs which cooperate with the handle forming a box which is inexpensive to manufacture, which may be opened and closed an unlimited number of times, which has an integral handle and which does notrequire any additional fastening means to keep it closed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our application Serial No. 332,354, filed January 2l, 1953.

We claim:

A box construction having a handle, comprising: a flat blank of box stock having foldable panels one of which is destined to overlie the other in a linished box; said blank including an integral handle portion comprising a pair of aligned fiat handle straps of the same length hav ing laterally enlarged end portions, adjacent enlarged end portions being foldably connected whereby said straps may be positioned in overlying relation to form a 2-ply handle, the other enlarged end portion of one of said straps being foldably attached to the edge of said other panel with said straps parallel to and spaced from said edge, said other panel having as lot therein parallel to said edge and dening transverse edges slightly wider than said strap and spaced from said edge a distance substantially equal to the distance of said strap therefrom, one of said transverse edges being aligned with the end of said one strap at said attached enlarged end portion, and said slot being of less length than said straps, said one panel having a rectangular opening therein of a length substantially equal to the length of said slot and arranged to overlie said slot in the finished box.

References Cited in the fle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,877,601 Shapiro Sept. 13, 1932 2,250,010 Cohn July 22, 1941 2,639,082 Goldsmith May 19, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 57,178 Switzerland Oct. 19, 1911 454,304 France Apr. 24, 1913 752,811 France July 24, 1933 

